Pair could be back Monday; Lawrie will require time in Minors before return

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays have contemplated the idea of activating Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion from the 15-day disabled list without putting them on a rehab assignment.

Toronto manager John Gibbons revealed Wednesday afternoon that the idea has been talked about within the organization. There isn't an exact time frame for the return of either player, but once they're deemed healthy, a spot on the 25-man roster will be waiting.

Encarnacion and Lind are working out at the club's Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla. Both recently resumed hitting, but still need to show additional improvement before they can be cleared to play the field.

"If we need 'em, we need 'em," Gibbons said before Wednesday night's game against the Red Sox.

"If they come quick, somebody just said a minute ago, desperate times call for desperate measures."

Encarnacion hasn't played since July 5 because of a strained right quadriceps muscle, while Lind has been out of action since July 7 with a fractured right foot. General manager Alex Anthopoulos recently suggested both could go on a rehab assignment by this weekend, and if that's no longer needed, then it's possible the pair could rejoin the Blue Jays as early as Monday in Boston.

Brett Lawrie also is on the DL, but unlike Lind and Encarnacion, he'll definitely require a stint in the Minors before returning. Lawrie has yet to resume hitting since breaking his right index finger in late June, but is expected to start doing so soon.

Lawrie could become a factor for the Blue Jays in early August, but before that happens he'll need to start at least a couple of rehab games to help with his timing at the plate. Once he's back with the team, Gibbons said it will be at third base.

"Realistically, he's probably going to get one," Gibbons said of a rehab assignment for Lawrie.

The fact that Toronto is even talking about activating Lind and Encarnacion without a rehab assignment shows just how much the Blue Jays need both players. The Blue Jays had the top offense in baseball through the first two months of the season, but have since fallen on tough times. Toronto has scored three runs or fewer nine times this month.